Brandon Guyer Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1291
AVG	.25
OBP	.339
SLG	.388
HR	32

Full name Brandon Eric Guyer
Born 01/28/1986 in West Chester, PA
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Virginia
Debut 05/06/2011
Drafted in the 5th round (157th overall) by the Chicago Cubs in 2007 (signed for $148,000).

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Guyer played poorly in the Cape Cod League last year, and he ultimately could fall into the category of solid hitter without enough power for a corner or quickness for the middle of the diamond. The consistent hard contact he made for the Cavaliers this spring opened the eyes of scouts, however, and in a draft thin in college hitters, he had a chance to go off the board in the top five rounds. He plays the game with fervor and has an aggressive, all-out approach. He doesn't work counts and he will swing and miss often, but he has solid-average bat speed and an ability to lash line drives from gap to gap. He's a 60 runner on the 20-80 scale, but lacks the lateral quickness to develop into an above-average defensive second baseman, and his fringy arm strength plays best in left field.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Guyer had an impressive first season in the Rays system after arriving from the Cubs in the Matt Garza trade. He tied for second in the International League in runs (78) and ranked fourth in on-base percentage (.384) and fifth in hitting (.312) and slugging (.521). He also hit a two-run homer off Zach Britton in his first big league at-bat in May, and went deep again against Derek Holland in September. Guyer offers an impressive combination of speed and power. He has an ideal body and a smooth swing that produces solid pop from gap to gap. A career .297 hitter in the minors, he should hit for average in the big leagues once he tightens his strike zone and shows more patience looking for pitches he can drive. Guyer has plus speed and is a constant threat to take the extra base. He could steal 20 bases annually in the majors. He's capable of playing all three outfield spots, and with above-average arm strength and good carry on his throws, he fits nicely in right field. Guyer is ready to become a big league regular and is just waiting for an opening in Tampa Bay.
When the Cubs scouted Guyer at a 2007 NCAA playoff game, they saw him dislocate his left shoulder in a home-plate collision. The shoulder bothered him for his first two years in pro ball, and it led to another stint on the disabled list last May. That didn't stop him from leading the system in batting (.344) and the Double-A Southern League in slugging (.588) and OPS (.986), which earned him the organization's minor league player of the year award and a spot on the 40-man roster. An all-Virginia high school running back and linebacker who drew interest from college football programs, Guyer has solid power, plus speed and the best present outfield skills in the system. He's aggressive in all phases of the game, which hurts him at the plate because he makes contact so easily that he doesn't draw many walks. He knows how to use his quickness on the bases, swiping 30 bags in 33 tries last year. Guyer can play all three outfield positions, thanks to his speed and instincts. His arm has improved to where it's now average, and it's accurate as well. Scouts see Guyer as a lesser version of Brett Jackson or a stronger version of Reed Johnson. Guyer's encore this year in Triple-A will help determine whether he'll become a regular or a fourth outfielder.
The best athlete in the system, Guyer needed some time before he was able to truly show off his tools in pro ball. He dislocated his left shoulder in a home-plate collision during an NCAA regional game shortly before the Cubs made him a fifth-round pick in 2007. Doctors recommended rehab rather than surgery, and he played in pain during his pro debut before having an operation in the offseason. While working his way back into shape during spring training, he came down with a stress fracture in his right elbow. Guyer finally joined Peoria in mid-May, and he showed what he can do once he was 100 percent in mid-June. Guyer has plus-plus speed and raw power. He homered and fell a double shy of hitting for the cycle when Peoria hosted a Midwest League game at Wrigley Field on July 29. Guyer will need to make some adjustments at the plate, such as improving his pitch recognition, plate discipline and ability to handle breaking balls. He brings a football mentality to the ballpark, a remnant of his days as an all-state running back and linebacker for his Virginia high school. That aggressiveness helps him on the basepaths, where he has the quickness to steal bases in the big leagues. Though Guyer played mostly left field last year to reduce the strain on his shoulder and elbow, he has the range to play center and an adequate arm for the position. If everything comes together for him, he could be a stronger version of Aaron Rowand. The Cubs won't be surprised if Guyer has a breakout year and pushes his way to Double-A in 2009, and it's possible that he could begin the season there.

Minor League Top Prospects

Guyer made a great impression in his first year in the Rays organization after coming over from the Cubs in the Matt Garza deal. He spent most of the season in Durham as one of the league's top hitters, and he belted a two-run homer in his first big league at-bat in May. He excited IL observers with his enthusiastic, heady play and expansive toolbox. Guyer is an aggressive hitter who will be a threat to hit .300, especially if he can iron out his streaky peaks and valleys. He has the power to hit 20 homers while amassing a healthy number of doubles as well. He'll become even more dangerous when he tightens up his strike zone a little and looks for pitches he can drive. A plus runner, Guyer creates excitement on the basepaths by looking to take the extra base whenever possible. He has the wheels and instincts to steal 20 or more bases annually and play any of the three outfield spots. His strong arm lends itself well to right field.
Guyer isn't young for a prospect at 24, but he has solid across-the-board tools and turned in the best season of his four-year pro career. He led the league in slugging (.588) and OPS (.986) while stealing 30 bases 33 attempts. The ball jumps off Guyer's bat and he's a potential .280 hitter with 15 homers annually in the majors. He's still developing as a hitter, though, as he tends to hunt for pitches off the plate and sometimes gets himself out by taking defensive swings. He makes good contact but doesn't work counts or draw walks as much as he should. Guyer has plus speed and an aggressive mentality on the basepaths. Capable of playing all three outfield positions, he reads balls well off the bat and makes strong accurate throws. One scout compared Guyer to Reed Johnson as a hard-working, max-effort player who may stick more as a good fourth outfielder than as an everyday player.